Signaling device



Jan. 29, 1946. R. F. MALLINA 2,393,790

SIGNALING DEVICE` I 4 FiledJune 24, 1942 4 sheets-sheet 1 /NVENTOR R t MALL/NA By @ha A TTORNEV Jan.- 29, 1946. R. F. MALLINA 2,393,790

' SIGNALING DEVICE I Filed June 24, 1942 4 sheets-sheet `2 /NVENTOP R F MALL/NA EL. fa'e'm Jan. 29, 1946.

R. F. MALLINA SIGNALING DEVICE Filed June 24, 1942 4 sweets-sheet 5 4s /NVE/von R F MALL/NA JMQQ A TTORNEV PatenteddJan. 29, 1946 Rudolph F.4Mallina, Hastings on Hudson,- N..Y., assigner to Bell lTelephone Laboratories, In;

corporated; New Yer-KN. 1

New York a corporation of Application June24, 1942', Serial No. 44832-31 (f Cl. 17V- 380i 4 Claims.

This invention relates toV signaling devices and more specifically to a type of signaling device used, forfexample, in telephone-systemsfor establishing talking connections.

The object of the invention `is the provision of a signaling device ofthe type 'above` referred to which will be simplex in construction, convenient in use and accurate in operation.

According` to the invention, code elements rep-'- resenting digits' or letters or both yare moved? manually from normal tot any one of a plurality of selected positions in line with a common stop for positioning the code elements in the. pathof vibrative reeds in an alternating current generator to cause their operationy in predetermined combinations :for transmitting' current signals vofl frequencies corresponding to the digits selected.

Means is provided for normally placing the alternating current generator in position ineffective relative to the code elements prior to its initial movement from normal to start position: eiffective by the operation` of a handle lever, with motor means in the form` of a spring tension'ed bythe handle vlever for actuating a gearing `mech-- anism` lfor moving the generator in the reverse direction 'to that imparted bythe handle lever to` cause the 'operation of the vibrative reeds.

Means operable upon the energization of anl electromagnet-following Athe closure `of a contact byithe removal 'of Ithe ltelephone handset from its cradleriseiectivetoremovea latch from the gearing mechanisms() as to permit the operation ofthemotor' 'and' that ofA the generator, vmeans being 'provided' for' controlling the operation of the v'generator as effected under thejtension of the motor'springin its movement effective transver'sefof the 'code y'elements for transmitting the call' signals. n

`Means carriedbythe alternating kcurrent gen'- erator is eiective to vactuate latchingmenibers normally' .holding the .code .elements Vin the selected positions' for releasing. the latter successi'vly so as to permit their return -movement te normal unopera'ted position under control` of a common speed .governor following. the transmission 'of `the signals representing each digit in .a given .call designation.

Other .novel features and advantages ofV the invention willlappear .'f'rom the vfollowing .descripttion andLby the claims appended thereto reference. `being' 'had to they .accompanying drawings.

inwhich: n Y K l Fig. *.1 isanasseinbly :view shown in perspective; 4 J2 .isaplangview shown with the 'casing and anumber of operating `partszwithv portions cut away;

Fig. 3 is a front elevationV` view showing the casing with portions cut away and the' operating parts in normal` non--operated'` position;

Fig. 4.-is a side elevation view' shown with the casing partly in vertical section and thev oper.,- ating parts'. in normal non-operated position;

Fig. 5 yis a front elevation view showing the casing 'with portionscut away and the code ele'-y ments moved in selected vposition preparatory to the operation of a handle lever for tensioning the motor spring mechanism;

Fig'. l6 isf a side elevationfviewv of Fig; 5 showing the electromagnetic lrelease mechanism in the operated position to startthe transmitting. of the'call;

Fig. '1 is apartial viewl of the .generator mount.u ing, the` guiding 'bar and .the guiding bar. support shown in cross section taken on line 1f?! ofv Fi -4;

.gliig 8 is' a .partial rear view showing alatch serving to hold the current generator in position ineffective relative .to the vcode elements kduring its movement transverse thereof to `start position;

Fig. 9 is acpartial 'rear view showing the code elements fand their'latching mechanisms in sectiontaken on line 9;-9 of Fig. 44;

Fig. 10 is a schematic View showing the num.` hering of one of the code elements in relation tothe operating combination of the reeds in the generator; I

Fig. 1.1 is `va partial view of the code elements set in the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6 for operating .the reeds of the generator for transmitting signals representing the call designation WZY WZY 77311 and f Fig. 12 is a detail view of ,a clutching mechanism used for actuating Lspeed governor serving. to control the return movement ofthe code ele'- ments to normal `under the tension of their retractle springs.

rAccording. tothis invention,v a base il! 'fis provided for securing -va pair ofuuprigfht members l-l and l2 on=which a shaft |.3 shown in Figs. A2., 4 and Gis journaled and :on this shaft are mounted the arms Sl, 4S2,.S'3'i`4 -,-S5, S6 and S1 which may vary in number vaccordngto the vnumber of digits of fthe exchange to vwhich the call transmitter of thisinvention is connected and .on these armsv are secured, las b y welding, `code/elements in the and Pl formed with groups of projections or teeth representing digits 1 to 0, inclusive, as shown in Figs. 4, 6, 10 and l1. Each sector member is formed with an arcuated slot S as shown in Figs. 4 and 6 for movement of the sectors concentric to the arcuated Wall portion I4 of a casing I5 serving in cooperation with the base I to form a housing for the transmitter mechanism.

The code elements PI, P2, P3, etc., at their peripheries are provided with radially disposed finger holds in the form of fins IG serving to facilitate the manual setting operation or" the code elements relative to a common stop in the form of a projection I'lY formed with the casing I5 and against the resistance of retractile springs I9, these projections forming partitions between the groups of indexes and numerals 1 to 10 printed at the peripheries of the code elements PI, P2, P3, etc., as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 11, while a common stop bar SB serves to hold the arms SI, S2,'S3, etc., collectively in normal noncperated position against the normal tension of their retractile springs I9.

The pivoted arms Si, S2, S3, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6y and 9 are formed with sector portions AI, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6 and A'I, respectively, and each sector portion is provided With ten ratchet teeth TH and gear teeth I'I, the ratchet teeth TH cooperating with respective pawls I8 for holding the arms SI, S2, S3, etc., in each of their ten selective positions against the tension of their retractile spring I9 while the gear teeth Il of these sector portions as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 5 and l2 engage with respective pinions as Bi, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6 and BI mounted for free rotation on a common shaft IQY journaled at both ends on upright members I I and I2 while oneway effective clutches operatively connect the pinions BI, B2, B3, etc., to the shaft ISY, these clutches being in the form of helical springs 20 tted over the hubs of pinions BI, B2, B3, etc., and onto bushings as 2|, best seen in Fig. 12, keyed to the shaft i9Y.

The movement of shaft IQY as effected by the successive return movement of arms SI, S2, S3, etc., from operated to normal position is controlled by a governor mechanism in the form of a fan-wheel 23, best seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, mounted on a spindle 24 formed with a pinion 25 engaging with a gear 25 keyed to the end of shaft ISY, the spindle 24 being journaled at one end of an upright member I2 and its other end to a, support 2T secured to the base I0 as by screws IOX.

According to this mechanism, the return movement of the pivoted arms SI, S2, S3, etc., and thereby the gear sectors AI, A2, A3, etc., carried thereby to normal position is eiective to rotate the pinions BI, B2, B3, etc., for rotating the shaft I SY through the spring clutches 23 and thereby the fan-wheel 23 acting as a governor for controlling the return movement of the code elements PI, P2, P3, P4, etc., following their release by the 'pawls I8 in a mannerr which will be hereinafter described in detail.

An alternating current generator device, shown in Figs. 3, 4, 6 and 9, consisting of a permanent magnet 28, a coil 3| and vibrative reeds RI, R2, R3 and R4 extending between the poles 29 and 3D of magnet 28, is secured as by screws 28X tothe free end of a support 32 mounted for sliding movement on a shaft 33 of square cross section having its ends pivoted on upright supports 34 and 35 for permitting the engagement and disengagement of reeds RI, R2, R3 and R4 from the code elements PI, P2, P3, etc., and adjacent to one end of shaft 33, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, is securely mounted a lever 35 having a veri' tically extending lug portion M! hooked to one end of a spring 3l while the other end of this spring is hooked to an upright member 38 secured to the base I0, the function of spring 3l being to move and resiliently hold the support 32 against a guiding bar RB to cause the engagement of reeds RI, R2, R3 and R4 with the code elements SI, S2, S3, etc., upon the disengagement of a pawl 39 shown in Figs. 4, 6 and 8 from the free end of lever 36 carried by the shaft 33.

The disengagement of pawl 39 from lever 36 is effected upon the operation of a gear sector 4I from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 6 under control of a handle lever 42 and against the tension of a motor spring 43 having one of its ends hooked to the sector and its other end to a stud Yi laterally extending from an upright member 44 secured to the base ID, the gear sector 4I and the handle lever 42 being keyed on a common shaft 45 mounted for free rotation in a support 46 secured to the base Il) by a number of screws 41.

To upright support II is secured as by a number of screws SC an angle support AF provided for mounting an electro-magnet 64 disposed in attractable relation with an armature in the form of a spring-pressed pawl 48 shown in Figs. 4 and 6, This pawl is mounted on a stud ST supported at one end by a bracket BA, best seen in Figs. 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7, formed with the upright plate II, While a stop member OP is provided to serve as an abutment for the pawl 48 against the normal tension of its retractile spring X3. The free end of pawl 48 is disposed for engagement with a stud or projection 49 carried by gear sector 4I upon the movement of this sector from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 6 for preventing the return movement of this sector under the tension of motor spring 43 and thereby preventing the operation of a gearing mechanism serving for actuating the generator prior to the operation of pawl 48 by the energization of magnet 64 in a manner which will be hereinafter described i detail.

The gear sector 4I meshes with a pinion 50,

best seen in Figs. 2 and 5, rotatable with a, gear' 5I as a unit on a spindle 52 supported at one end by upright support II and its other end is supported by an upright 'I3 in turn secured to thel 58 at one end of a spindle 60 rotatably mounted. in a bearing 6I of support 56 and to the otherV end of the spindle 60 is keyed a. pinion B2 mesh- This rack is secured to` ing with a rack 63. mounting 32 as by screws RY and serves for slidably moving the latter on shaft 33 and there` by the generator transverse ofthe code elements PI, P2, P3, etc., as effected from right to left by the manual operation of gear sector 4I and back to normal position by the tension of motor spring 43 following the operation of pawl 43 so` as to release the gear sector 4I upon the energization of electromagnet 64 and thereby the operation of pawl 48 under control of a. contact 85 closed upon the removal of the telephone handset. ttDindcatedin dotted line. in Fig. 4i. from itsfcradleV 66. and the consequent'` operation of plunger members 6.1 and sandrthe angle. lever 69. operating they so-called. switchhook spring of the set to which the; contactv 6.5A forms a part.

A speed. governor consistingV ofI a. drum 10 mounted .on support 1:3 and fiyweights W mounted for rotation in this drum controlsv thefspeed of the generator in its` movement transverse of the code. elements PI,` P2, P3, etc., aseiected by motorspring 43.v This governor is actuated by a spring-pressed pawl 1I carried by the gear 5| and engaging a ratchet Wheel` 12. secured to a sleeve on whichv the. iiyweights W of the. governor are mounted, the. pawl 11| being5 ineffective to rotate the. ratchet wheel 1:2 upon. the operation of pinion and gear units 50 and 5l during the operation of gear sector 4|. as effected by .handle leverv 42.

In a typical example. of'` operation, supposing that it is desired to transmit 'signals corresponding to. the. call designation Wil-7.1311. The code elements` PI, P2, P3, P4, P5, P5. andi P1 which areV now in normal non-operated position, as shown .in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, are moved manually against the tension of their retractile spring I9 to the position shown in Rigs. and 6 .wherein theV letters Wand Y and digits. '17311 are placed in a `row'v in alignment With the `common finger stop HY where 'they are heldin selected position by.` theirY respectivey pawls I8.V engaging the ratchet teeth of sector portions Al, A2, A3, etc., formed witharms SI,.S2, S3, etc., the set position civ code elementsPl` P2, P3, etc., being shown in idg. 11 in` relation to the digitsv they represent and in 'relation to vthe vibrativev reeds Rl, R2, R3 and.` R4 actuatedthereby.

TheA alternating current generator is now in normal non-operated position to the right or adjacent thecode elementfP1, the last digit of the call'designations above mentioned andthe handle lever 42 and the gear sector 4i in the position shown `in Figs. l, 3 and 4, While the alternating current generator is heldin position by the cam portion yCP of guiding bar'RB against the tension ofl retractilewspring 31-v wherein the vibrative reeds Rl, R2, R3 and R4 are out of engagealble relation with the codeelements Pl., P2, P3,

etc., andv lockedin that position bythe paw-'lv 39 engaging the arm 36 keyed on the square shaft 33. The operation of handle lever .42 from the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 to the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is effective to rotate the pinion and gear unit 50--5I with the pawl 1 I carried by the gear 5l sliding ineffectively over the teeth of ratchet wheel 12 and, therefore, flyweights W of the governor are not operated. The movement of gear 5l, however, is eiective to rotate the shaft 54 and thereby the miter gears 51 and 58 and the pinion 62 engaged by the gear rack 63 thusl imparting a sliding movement to support 32 on shaft 33 and moving the generator to the left side of the code elements; that is, from the position shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 to the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the generator and therefore the vibrative reeds RI, R2, R3, etc., being, as above described, held out of engagement from the code elements PI, P2,v P3, etc., during the movement of support 32 by the pawl 39 engaged with the arm 36 keyed to the shaft 33, while the cam X4 of the generator as shown in Fig. 4 is ineffective to engage the arms X5 formed with pawls I8 which now hold the code elements PI, P2, P3, etc., in selected position.

The movement of gear sector 4l from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in 75 6; and with. magnet 6.4; deenergized; permits the pawl 48; to move. under` the tension of its retractile spring X3, into engagement with the stud 49. carried. by this. sector forA holding the latter andfthereby the reedfgenerator from returning to normal'non-.operated position .under the tension of. motor spring 4I; until released as enectedby the. removal .of the handset from its cradle to cause the` operation of the switchhook contact 65, and thereby theyenergization of electromagnet 6.4; for removing the holding pawl 48 from the'lug 49:, as shown in. Fig. 6, thus permittingl the gear sector 4I to return to normal unope erated. position1 under the` tension of motor spring 43A actuating the pinion and gear unit 5ll..5.l.,. the shaft, 54 and pinion 52 engaged with the 'rack 63v in the oppositeA direction and causing the pawl 1I carried by gear 5.1. to. rotate the. ratchet. wheel 12 and thereby thegovernor weights W`,the. return movement of the. generator to normal nonoperated position causing the. reeds RI, R2, R3 and R4 to. successively engage with the teeth of code elements Pil, P2,P3, etc., for generating and transmitting current signals representing the call designation WY-'If'ISl-l above mentioned.

In the return movement of the generator the cam X4 formedwithA the permanent magnet 28 of the generator successively engages the. arms X5 formed with pawls- I8 to causethedisengagement of these pawls from the ratchet-teeth TH of the sectors Al, A2, A3, etc., for permitting their-successive return to normalv unoperated position under the tension of their retractile spring I9, but controlled by the operation ofy the fan- Wheel 23 geared to shaft' ISlYv in turn rotated by pinions BI, B2, B3, etc., engaged bythe geartoothed portion of sectors Alf, A2, A3, etc., and the wire clutches 20.. In the continued movement of support 32 followingl the transmitting of the signal corresponding-to the last digit in the call designation above mentioned, the cam portion CP at the end of guiding bar RB, as shown in Fig. 2, causes a pivotal movement of shaft 33 against the tension of retractile spring 31.` to move the arm 3-6 carried by shaft 33 imposition to be engaged by pawl 39 prior to the engagement of gear sector 4I with stop Zt and the transmitter isnow readyfora successive operation by moving the code elements PI; P2, P3, etc., in selected position which may be eiected either prior to or following the operation of handle lever 42 for actuating the gear sector 4i and tensioning the motor spring 43. v

What is claimed is:

1. A call transmitter comprising a plurality of code elements representing digits movable from normal to selected position for setting a call, a retractile spring for each of said code elements tensioned by the setting operation of thelatter for returning them to normal, means for retaining each of said code elements in selected position, an alternating current generator having vibrative reeds, a mounting for moving said generator transverse of said elements to cause the simultaneous vibration of a number of said reeds by different of said code elements for transmitting signals corresponding tothe setting of said code elements, and means carried by said generator for actuating said retaining means to cause the return movement of saidcode elements to normal non-operated position successively under the tension of said retractile springs.

2. In a call transmitter, a plurality of pivoted code elements-movable from normal to selected position for setting a call, latching means for holding said code elements in each of said selected positions, an alternating current generator having vibrative reeds, means for moving said generator in direction transverse of said elements but in a path where said reeds are ineffective to engage said elements, means operable upon the movement of said generator for moving the latter in a path effective relative to said code elements upon the return movement of said generator to normal, means carried by said generator to successively actuate said latching means for permitting the return of said code elements to normal, a governor mechanism for controlling the operation of said generator in said effective path, a rotatable shaft, a plurality of one-way operable clutching devices for operatively connecting said elements to said shaft and a governor mechanism geared to said shaft for controlling the return operation of each of said elements to normal upon the operation of said latching means by said generator following the successive operation of said vibrative reeds for transmitting said signals.

3. In a call transmitter, a plurality of code elements manually movable from normal to any of a plurality of selected positions for setting a call, a retractile spring for each of said elements tensioned by the movement thereof, a sector member carried by each of said code elements, a ratchet-toothed portion and a gear-toothed portion formed with each of said sector members, pawls engaging said ratchet portionsfor holding said elements in each selected position against the tension of said retractile springs, an alternating current generator, a pivoted shaft, a mounting for said generator slidably engaging said pivoted shaft, manually operable means for moving said mounting and said generator on said shaft transverse `of said code elements in a path ineective thereto, a motor spring tensioned by the movement of said manually operable means for returning said generator to normal, latching means actuated by the movement of said manually operable means for permitting the pivotal movement of said shaft for placing said generator in position effective relative to said code elements, a stop bar disposed in line parallel to the movement of said generator for determining the effective position thereof relative to said code elements, a shaft, gears mounted for free rotation on said .shaft engaging the gear-toothed portions of said sector members, one-way effective clutch mechanisms operatively connecting said gears to said shaft, means carried by said generator for successively operating said pawls to cause the return movement of said code elements to normal under the tension of said retractile springs. a governor mechanism actuated by said shaft for controlling the return movement of each of said code elements to normal, a second governor actuated by the tension of said motor spring for controlling the operation of said generator in position effective relative to said code elements for transmitting the call, and a cam carried by said stop bar for returning said generator to said ineifective position following the transmitting of the call.

4. In a call transmitter, a plurality of code elements manually movable from normal to selected position for setting a call, a pivoted shaft, a support mounted for sliding movement on said shaft and movable therewith, an alternating current generator carried by said support but normally in position ineffective relative to said code elements, a manually operable gearing mecha.- nism for moving said support on said shaft in said position, said mechanism comprising a handle lever, a gear sector actuated by said handle lever, a pinion and gear unit rotated by the operation of said gear sector, a shaft rotated by the operation of said unit, angle gears actuated by the movement of said shaft, one of said angle gears having a'spindle portion, a pinion mounted on said spindle portion, a gear rack secured to said support and engaging said last-mentioned pinion to move said support on said shaft and thereby said generator transverse of said code elements, means actuated by the movement of said gear sector to cause a rotary movement to said pivoted shaft for moving said generator in position efl'ective to said code elements preparatory to the return movement of said support to normal and a motor spring tensioned by the movement of said gear sector by said handle lever for actuating said gearing mechanism in the opposite direction to cause the operation of said generator by said code elements for transmitting signals corresponding to the selected position of said elements.

RUDOLPH F. MALLINA. 

